FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 17, 2023
Contact: EON Co-Founder Shanel Lindsay (shanel@masseon.com) or Policy Co-Chair Kevin Gilnack (kevin@masseon.com)
CCC Acting Chair Ava Concepcion, EOED Asst. Secretary Juan Vega and other community & government leaders to speak at EON’s Celebration of Cannabis Equity Champions on Tuesday
Third-annual fundraising reception will honor contributions to Massachusetts’ historic cannabis equity policies at licensed cannabis equity business New Dia Fenway
BOSTON — Equitable Opportunities Now (EON), a nonprofit dedicated to helping communities harmed by the war on drugs participate in the Massachusetts cannabis industry, holds its third annual Celebration of Cannabis Equity Champions at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at New Dia Cannabis Co. Fenway in Boston.
EON supported passage of An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry in 2022 and has advocated with equity businesses and community partners to ensure the law is implemented with strong Cannabis Control Commission regulations and the rollout of a new grant and loan fund administered by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED).
EON recently teamed up with the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts to support a successful push by delivery operators, who are exclusively equity businesses, to repeal burdensome regulations.
The group plans to celebrate these victories and the contributions their honorees made to them at their annual fundraiser on Tuesday. Honorees include:
- Cannabis Control Commission Acting Chair Ava Concepcion
- Sen. Liz Miranda
- City of Boston Cannabis Business Manager Shekia Scott
- The Heritage Club Founder Nike John
- Talking Joints Memo Editor Chris Faraone
EON’s Celebration of Cannabis Equity Champions will also offer attendees a preview of what the future may hold as all honorees and public officials in attendance will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the future of equity in the cannabis industry.
EON is also excited to share that EOED Assistant Secretary for Communities and Programs Juan Vega will share general information about the agency’s plans for the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and share the EOED’s progress in implementing the changes included in the FY23 supplemental budget in coordination with the Legislature, Executive Office of Administration & Finance, Comptroller’s Office, and other government partners.
Attendees will also hear special video messages from:
- Cannabis Control Commissioner Nurys Camargo
- Former Cannabis Control Commissioner and EON Co-Founder Shaleen Title
This year’s Celebration of Cannabis Equity Champions will take place at licensed dispensary, social equity business, and Boston’s first and only Cannabis Mall: New Dia Cannabis Co. New Dia’s space serves as a hub for community and cultural engagement – an interactive space to connect with like-minded individuals who share our same values.
While this is the group’s biggest fundraiser of the year and attendees are invited to donate to or sponsor the event, donations are not required to attend. EON offers free and donate-what-you-can tickets to ensure all of its events are accessible.
To learn more or reserve tickets, please visit EON’s Celebration of Cannabis Equity Champions Eventbrite page or download EON’s Sponsorship Packet (PDF).
Members of the media and government officials are invited to attend free of charge. Please email your name, title, and organization to kevin@masseon.com to RSVP.
EON’s Celebration of Cannabis Equity Champions is sponsored, in part, by:
- The Boston Foundation
- Kapnos Cannabis Co.
- New Dia Cannabis Co.
- Ben & Jerry’s Foundation
- PowerFund Partners
- Firebrand – Home of Boston Cannabis
- MassCultivatED
- Rooted In Roxbury
- oliveouid*
- Premium Ultra
- Greenpath Training
- Parabola Center
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Equitable Opportunities Now (EON)’s mission is to ensure equitable ownership and employment opportunities for Black and Brown communities who have been targeted by the War on Drugs. We mobilize constituent-led statewide legislative and regulatory advocacy campaigns to create equitable economic opportunities in MA’s cannabis industry and education and technical assistance programs to support cannabis business leaders and workers. Learn more at www.masseon.com